Combined billfold and coin purse



April 25, 1944.

l.. L. sHERwooD 2,347,338 COMBINED BLLFOLD AND COIN PURSE Filed April 2l1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l ESTE/EZ. 'ef/VE/Ewaao. l

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April 2.5, 1944. L. sHERwoD COMBINED BILLFOLDvAND COIN PURSE Filed April21, 1942 s sheets-sheet 2 Z; .5 4.9 f f I; j fz. L45) OIl WM5/V70@ k57759 4 S/s/f/e/Wooo. 45)/ e I April 25, 1944.

COMBINED BILLFOLD AND COIN` PURSE Filed April 2l, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3l.. sHERwooD '2,347,338 y Patented Apr. 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENTorner.

CORIBINED BILLFOLD AND COIN PURSE Lester L. Sherwood, Los Angeles,Calif. Appiication April 21, 1942, serial No. 439,829

(Cl. G-35) 6 Claims.

My invention relates to a folding container composed of leather or thelike, and adapted to be carried in the pocket to serve as a convenientcontainer for paper currency, checks, coins, stamps, business cards andthe like, and the lprincipal objects of my invention are to generallyimprove upon, and simplify the construction of the existing forms ofcombined bill folds and coin purses, and further, to provide a bill foldand purse of the character referred to that is wholly devoid ofstitching as the medium for maintaining the parts of the structure inassembled relation, and, further, to provide a construction wherein thebill fold and purse are compactly maintained in closed position by asingle strap that passes entirely around said bill fold and purse, withthe outer end of the strap detachably connected to one of the outerwalls of the purse by readily detachable fastening means, such as aconventional snap fastener.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in an article of thecharacter referred to, a purse having a coin tray which may be readilywithdrawn from the purse in order to give more convenient access to thecoins carried in said purse.

A further object of my invention is to provide the bill fold portion ofthe structure with a flap that overlies the Yfolded bills so as toseparate the same from the coin purse, andwhich flap may, if desired, beprovided with a window composed of thin transparent material in orderthat the folded bills or an identification card positioned beneath saidflap may be readily observed without displaying the underlying foldedbills. n d

A further object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple,practical and inexpensive bill fold which is entirely devoid ofstitching.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts thatwill be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a combined bill fold and coin purseconstructed in accordance with my invention. l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on the line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 1i is a plan View of the structure when opened and with the flapthat forms theV ycoin tray withdrawn in order to give ready access tothe coins.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bill fold portion of the structure in opencondition.

Fig. 6 is a plan -view of themember that overlies the folded billspositionedin the bill fold, with dotted lines showing a Window.

Fig; 'l is a plan view of the section of material that forms the mainouter -walls of the Acombined bill fold and coin purse.

Figs. V8 and 9 are plan views of the members that form the inner flapsof the lfolding structure.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line lil- I0 ofFig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of a strap that is utilized inmaintaining and securing the ilaps of the billiold in closed position.

Fig. 12 is a plan View of thecstrap that passes entirely around thebillfold and coin purse when the same are in folded condition.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a c oin purse constructed in accordance withmy invention.

Fig. 14 is across section taken on the line lli-,Hi of Fig, 13. v u MFig. 15 is a cross section taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 13. d y

Fig. 1.6 is a plan view of the member that forms the outer Walls of thecoin purse.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the member that forms the tray ofthe coinpurse.

Fig. 13` is a plan view of the strap utilized for securing the coinpurse in closed position. ,A

Fig. 19 is a plan View of a stitchless hillfold constructed inaccordance with my invention.

Fig. 20 is an elevation View of the rear `side of the billfold.

Fig. 21 is a plan View of the billfold in opened position. Y

Fig. 22' is a cross section taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, and particularly, tothey construction illustrated in Figs. 1*-12 inclusive, which show apreferred form of my improved bill fold and coin purse, li) designates arectangular piece jof thin flexible material, such as leather, theAsame-being rectangular in form, and having a length somewhat greaterthan its width. This member forms the outer walls of the combined billfold and purse, .and formed thereinv 'between vits lon-V gitudinalcenter and ends are pairs of longitudinally disposed slits I I and VIt?,the same lying parallel withzea'ch other andwith the sideedges of membert0. Formed through Ithe end portions of member I parallel with the endvedges are transversely deposed slits I3, and formed in the centralportion of member I between the pairs of slits I!) and li, is a pair oftransversely deposed slits I4 similar to slits I3. Formed through memberIB, adjacent and inwardly from one of the slits E3, is an aperture I5for the reception of the stud member of a conventional snap fastener.

In Fig. 8, I have illustrated a member formed of thin flexible material,such as leather, and which associated with half of member I3 in formingthe billfold portion of the structure, said member including a narrowcentral portion I6 that passes through the slits I2 in member I0, andlies upon the inner face of saidmember between said slits. The endportions of this member are substantially wider than the central portionIS so as to form flaps Il which overlie one another on the inner face ofthat portion of member I in which the slits I2 are formed. Flap members|I fold inwardly, one under the other along the dotted lines a when theparts of the structure are assembled for use. Formed yinone of themembers Il adjacent and parallel with the line of fold a, is a slit I 8,and formed in the other one member Il, adjacent its outer edge is anaperture I 9 for the reception of the stud member of a conventional snapfastener. The member illustrated in Fig. 9, and which forms the flaps ofthe coin purse, is formed from a single piece of thin flexible material,such as leather, and this member comprises a narrow intermediate portion2D and wide end portions 2|. rlhe narrow intermediate portion 23 of thismember, passes through the slits II of member I with said narrowintermediate portion lying against the inner face of member I3 betweensaid slits II, and formed in the outer end portions of said members 2|are apertures 22 for the reception of the shank of the stud member ofthe conventional snap fastener.

Portions 2| of this member fold inwardly on the dotted lines b, Fig. 9,and when so folded, the end portions of said members overlap each other,and the apertures 22 register, one with the-other.

An elongatedV member 23 ofv thin flexiblev material, such asleatherf-forms the coin tray, coin tray top, and ap of the coin purseportion of the structure, and one end portion 25 thereof, which'isapproximately one-third the length of said member23, is positioneddirectly beneath the overlapping flaps 2|. The intermediate portion 25of this member 23, and which approximates one-third the length thereof,normally occupes a position overlying the portion 24, and thisintermediate portion 25 serves as the coin trayof the coin purse. Theend portion 23 of .this member opposite the end portion 213 and ,whichapproximates one-third the length of said member 23 functions as a flapthat normally closes the opening between the end of member A24, and thecoin purse tray portion, and said flap loverlies the overlapping innerportions of the flaps 2| of member 23. One end of a narrow strap 2l ofleather, or the like, which passes entirely around the combined billfold and purse, overlies the overlapping end portions of members 2|.Passing through the central portion of coin purse member 24 through theregistering apertures 22, and throughv an aperture 28, that is formedatone end of strap 2l, is the shank of a studmember 29, Vof aconventional snap fas- `ener, thus maintaining said parts in assembledrelation.

From its point of attachment to stud member 29, strap 2'I passes aroundthe outer end portion of the coin purse, thence through slit I3 adjacentthe aperture I5 in member IS, thence along the inner face of member I0,thence outwardly and then inwardly through the slits I4, thence alongthe inner face of member I9, out through slit I3 at the front end of thebill fold, thence around the free ends of the bill fold and coin purse,and carried by the free end of said strap, is the socket member 3G of aconventional snap fastener which engages the complementary stud member3| that is secured to member I il and which passes through aperture I5.

Passing through the slits I4, and disposed between member Ill, and thatportion of strap 2'| that passes through said slits, is a narrow neckportion 3| that projects from the end of a rectangular member 32, formedof thin flexible material, such as, leather, and which serves as a coverfor folded bills carried in the bill fold portion of the device.

To maintain this cover in position, the outer end of the neck I3 isprovided with lateral extensions 33 which prevents the neck from beingreadily withdrawn through the slits I4. If` desired, the covering member32 may be provided with a Window, as illustrated by dotted lines' W inFig. 6, thus enabling an identification card, or the like, that ispositioned beneath the cover, to be readily observed.

The means utilized for securing the flap portions I'I of the bill foldin closed position, includes a short strap 34 which is folded doubled asillustrated in Fig. 11, and the doubled portion of this strap passesthrough one of the slits I2 in member lil, and extends outwardly throughslit I8 in member I6, beyond the adjacent edge of said member, and saidoutwardly extending portion carries the socket member 35 of aconventional snap fastener. When the flaps of the bill fold are closed,socket member 35 engages the stud member 33 of a conventional snapfastener that is seated in aperture I9.

When in use, folded bills, checks, cards, stamps, or the like arepositioned on the inner face of that portion of member Il that forms theback wall of the bill fold and after the covering member 32 ispositioned'over said folded bills or cards, the flaps I'I are folded soas to overlie one another on top of covering member 32, and said flapsare secured in such position by engaging the socket member of the snapfastener 35 on the'stud 36 that is seated in aperture I9.

Coins, small keys and the like are carried in the pocket between theportions 24 and 25 of member 23 and when this coin pocket is closed,flap 26 is folded over onto the outer faces of the members 2| and thesocket member 3l of a conventional snap fastener, which is seated in theouter end portion of said flap, engages the stud member 29 of thefastener, thus effectively closing the mouth of the coin pocket.

To give access to the coins and bring the same into position where theymay be readily observed, flap 23, after being opened, is drawn outwardlyaway from the members 2| with the result that the intermediate portion25 of member 3 upon which the coins rest will be drawn outwardly to thepositions illustrated in Figs. 4 and l0, thus serving as a coin trayfrom which a coin or coins may be readily removed.

In Figs. 13-18 inclusive, I have illustrated a Structure which functionsonly as a coin purse, and in this construction, an elongatedsubstantially rectangular member 3%, illustrated in Fig. 16, and formedof thin exible material, such as leather, forms the outer walls of thepurse. `The intermediate portion 39 of this member 38 forms the rearwall of the purse, and the portions lill and 4l fold onto the inner faceof portion 39 to form the front Wall. r 1

The length of the portion All is substantially equal to the length ofthe intermediate portion 35, and the portion il which is somewhatshorter than the portion lid, overlies the latter, and is securedthereto by the shank portion of the stud member s2 of a conventionalsnapk fastener, said shank passing through apertures t3 that are formedin members i6 and ll (see Fig. 16).

Formed in the intermediate portion 39 of mei ber 33 are pairs ofparallel slits lill that are disposed parallel with the side edges ofsaid member 3B.

. Formed integral with and projecting from one side of member 3B is ashort ilap d5, in which is formed a pair of slits da identical withslits dfi.

The coin tray and flap in this construction comprises a single piece ofthin flexible material illustrated in Fig. 17, and designated by thenumeral 66. A substantially rectangular portion 4l, at one end of thismember, lies immediately beneath the overlapping members i0 and l whenthe latter are folded for use, and a substantially rectangular portioni8 of said member 46 lies immediately against the inner face of theintermediate portion 39 of member 38, and performs the functions of acoin tray.

Projecting from the end o the coin tray member 48 is a short fiap Q5.The parts of the coin purse are maintained in assembled relation by astrap Sii of leather, or the like, one end of which overlies the outerface of member lli, and being secured thereto and to member d and to theunderlying portion 6.1 of member 65, by the shank or the stud e2, andwhich shank passes through the apertures 3, and through an aperture 52in the center of member lil. The end of stud is provided with asubstantially spherical head l which is adapted to enter a conventionalsnap socket 53 carried by the overlying end portion of strap 5i) (seeFig. 14).

Flap 65 overlies the outer edges of the meinbers 46 and I from thefastening stud Q2, strap 50 passes through over flap 45, through slits55a, thence across the outer surface of member 39, through the slits 44therein, thence over flap 49, and socket member 53, which is carried bythe free end of said strap, engages stud 5I to secure the purse inclosed position.

When in use, coins, keys and other small articles are contained in thepocket between the portions 41 and 48 of member 46, and to open thepurse, the end of strap 5t carrying the socket member 53 is disengagedfrom stud d2, and flap 49 is now pulled outwardly thereby pulling thecoin tray 48 outwardly as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 14, thuspositioning the coins so that they may be conveniently observed andremoved.

Figs. 19-22 inclusive illustrate a stitchless bill fold, constructed inaccordance with my invention, the same comprising two main parts withtheir intermediate portions inter-engaged with each other.

An elongated rectangular member Sil composed of thin flexible material,such as leather,

has a relatively narrow intermediate portion Si. and the wide endportions 62 of this member, function as overlapping outer wall flaps.Formed through the central portion of the narrow .intermediate member 6lis a short longitudinally disposed slit 63. o

Disposed at right angles to member et and arranged on the inner facethereof, is an elongated rectangular member 64 of thin flexiblematerial, such as leather, and formed in the intermediate portionthereof, are spaced longitudinally disposed slits 65, through which passthe end portions of the narrow intermediate portion BI of member et.Thus, the narrow portion Sl of member El! overlies the inner face of thecentral portion of member @4 with the end portions Bti of said memberill forming inner wall flaps which, when the device is folded, occupypositions beneath the overlapping flaps 62 of member 58.

The intermediate loop portion 6l of a doubled strap 63 passes throughslit 63 and lies above and below a portion of said member el to the sideor" said slit, and the end portions of said strap pass through a shorttransversely disposed slit 59 that is formed between the intermediateportion of member 64 and one of the naps 56.

The outer end of this strap 68 carries the socket member 'l of aconventional snap fastener and when the bill fold is closed, this socketreceives the stud member 'll of the fastener, which latter is seated inthe outer end portion of that one of the flaps 65 opposite the one inwhich the slit E9 is formed.

When the bill fold is opened, the parts occupy the positions asillustrated in Fig. 2l, and the bills, checks, or the like, to becarried in the device, are placed on the inner face of member 64. Flaps62 of member 60 are now folded over the intermediate portions of thebills or checks, and the flap 66 provided with the slit 69 through whichthe strap 68 passes, is now folded onto the overlapping aps 62.

Flap 65 that carries the stud 'll is now folded onto the underlying oneof the naps 66 after which strap 68 is folded down and socket 1E]engages stud 1I, thus fastening the bill fold in closed condition.

If desired, the bills or checks may be folded so as to overlie only theintermeditte portion of member 64, and the intermediate portion 6| oimember 6l! before the flaps are folded, and secured in closed position.

Among the particular desirable features of my invention are theelimination of stitching in the construction of the combined bill foldand coin purse, also, the construction and mounting of the lower part ofthe coin purse so that the same may be pulled outwardly after the mannerof a tray in order to give ready access to the coins that are located inthe coin pocket.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a combination bill fold andcoin purse that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive ofmanufacture, and very effective in performing the functions for which itis maintained.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form andconstruction of the various parts or" my improved bill fold and coinpurse may be made and substituted for those herein shown and describedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which isset forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a combined bill fold and coin purse. a

rectangular section of thin flexible material folded at its center toprovide front and rear Walls, pairs of spaced longitudinally disposedslits formed in the material forming said front and rear walls, a pairof members formed of thin flexible material arranged at right angles onthe end portions of said rst mentioned mem-ber, with their intermediateportions passing through the slits in said first mentioned member, theend portions of said second mentioned members provlding overlappingflaps on the inside of the end portions of said rst mentioned memberthere being transverse slits formed in the material providing said freeand rear Walls and a longitudinally disposed strap extending through thetransverse slits in said first mentioned member, and passing around thesame and around the end portions of the second mentioned members when infolded condition.

2. In a combined bill fold and coin purse as set forth in claim 1, witha second strap inter-laced with a part of the said first mentionedmember for securing the flaps of one of the second mentioned members infolded position.

3. In a combined bill fold and coin purse as set forth in claim1 1 witha coin tray formed of thin iiexible material and arranged for slidingmovement beneath the flaps of one of said second mentioned flexiblemembers.

4. A combined bill fold and coin purse as set forth in claim 1 with acoin tray formed of flexible material and arranged for sliding movementbeneath the overlying flaps of one of the second mentioned flexiblemembers, and a ap for closing the open outer end of said coin tray.

5. A combined bill fold and coin purse as set forth in claim 1 and a aphaving one end interlaced With the intermediate portion of said firstmentioned flexible member, and adapted to overlie the inner face of oneof the Wall-forming parts of the rst mentioned member.

6. In a combined bill fold and coin purse, an elongated rectangularmember formed of flexible material folded so as to provide overlappingend portions, an elongated rectangular member com posed of flexiblematerial folded so as to provide portions that are positioned betweenthe intermediate portion of said first mentioned member and theoverlapping end portions, a flap projectingr from one end of one of thefolded portions of said second mentioned member there being pairs oflongitudinally disposed slits formed in the intermediate portion of saidflrst mentioned member and a strip passing through said slits and aroundboth of said rectangular mem-bers for securing same in closed position.

LESTER L. SHERWOOD.

